What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingChondrus Crispus
MaskingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingHydrated Silica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicSorbitol
HumectantThreonine
Arginine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Chondrus Crispus, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Decylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrated Silica, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Escin, Sorbitol, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Proline, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhytol
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Zinc PCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingPiper Methysticum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Phytol, Retinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Ectoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Piper Methysticum Root Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Xanthophylls, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water